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The Northland Regional Harbourmaster was notified because of the 1600 litres of diesel on board the vessel.

Three people were found nearby under a cliff in Howe Bay, shaken and mildly hypothermic but coherent.

They were transported by the Coastguard Rescue Vessel back to Doves Bay Marina to an awaiting ambulance.

Coastguard spokeswoman Georgie Smith said this was another successful example of search and rescue teams working together.

"The fact that the vessel had multiple forms of communication on board meant that when one failed another was able to be used, greatly reducing the search area and time taken to locate the vessel and its crew," she said.

"The Coastguard Volunteers that responded from Coastguard Bay of Islands were paged out from their homes to respond in the early hours and now return back to base and continue with their day jobs. It's remarkable really."